Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-02
BELIEF in SIGNS.
A Girl Who Thought Her Grave Was
Walked On.

4
Two young, handsome, well-dressed
girls were riding in an open car on the
Avenue line few days ago.
II was in the middle of the day, and the
only other passengers at that time were q
foxy-eyed, beetle-browed, red-nosed man,
en- inquisitive small boy, colored woman
with large basket in which evidently re-
posed freshly dOne-up clothes and Wash
ingtOn reporter, 80 that the girls were
alone, at least for all they cared to the con-
trary.
For time the conversation between
them was animated; they discussed Eve
lina's new dress, bonnet, gloves, Georges
dear little thing" of a moustache, the
last game of tennis, the merits OF the ball
plsyers-Hines, Shaw ana sweet Gillie''
and what mean things had been said
about them, until it seemed that the whole
calendar of social, political aud domestic
events would be exhausted; but soon the
warm rays of the sun, the jingling of the
bells on the horses and the easy motion OF
the car had a soothing effect, and the con-
versation, from being one continual tiow
of EXPLANATIONS and rapidly.spoken words,
dwindled into monosyllabie replies and
queries, and they half sleepily watched the
carriages whirl by.
About block had been travelled in this
way when the elder of the two, a fresh,
jolly-looking young girl, gave a little
shiver and Strengthened up to an erect po-
sitiOn. do you know" said she, turn
ing to her companion and speaking in
tones as earnest and awe-struck as her
naturally merry, ringing voice would per-
init, somebody is walking over my
grave"
Her friend gave laugh, half sympa-
pathetic, half credulous in reply, and then
they began to recount to each other the
supernatural signs, omens and sensations
they had felt recently. One told how she
stumped her dainty little toe when run
ming up stairs last Tuesday, and she felt
certain that she would not be married in
a years time, not that she cared much, for
she was sure that she disliked all mankind,
would never marry.
The other told how sure she was that
George called night before last, because
her pretty retrOuse nose itched violently
Just after she had dressed for the evening;
and although that usually means stranger
is coming, goodness knows he was stranger
enough he hadn't been near her Tor
week at least.
And so they talked on. The car went
peacefully on its way stopping every now
and then to let somebody on or of, and
the girls chartered and chartered in bliss
full unconsCiousness of the smiles their in
genuous remarks created when overheard
by some practical passenger of the mascu-
liue gender. Nor did they appear at all
conscious of their surroundings until the
conductor called ont in stentOrian
accents, "N'York av'nOochangecars Four
teenth street. Then they gathered up their
natty little skirts, and showing each neat
foot and ankle as they got of the car,
tripped over to the transfer agent, got
transfer and passed away. No one got on
the car, and in few moments it started
off for Georgetown. The strange conduct
of the half dozen or more passengers must
have excited some little astOnishment
along the street. Hardly had the girlsgOt
out of hearing distance than a howl of
laughter went up from the Threats of the
male passengers, mingling with sly filters
from the passengers of the other sex. The
usual street car reserve having been melted
by that zone touch of nature which makes
all mankind akin anecdotes and stories
of different superstitiOns, signs and omens
were passed about.
Meanwhile the newspaper man had adj
iourned to back seat. whereOn sat a cal
low youth wearing large cheCkered gray
suit, pink crOss-bar shirt, white collar and
cuffs, red necktie with heavy gold scarf
pin, yellow leather shoes, and having q
general appearance of disciple of the
green cloth.
"Talkin bout superstishun, +" said he,
blowing a cloud OF smoke from five
cent Reina Victoria, ''if yer wants to see
superstishun go down wild de boys what
shoves de cards. Deys de most super
stishunus people in de world. Dey's got
sign for ev'rythtn' and yer kin bet yer
socks that if the signs agin 'em dey
won't play. See?" He stopped mo-
ment and then resumed in confidential
way. Nov take de 'humpy' supersti-
shun for instance. Suppose a gam
is down on his luck an he sees a hump
back Teller comm long. Will he tech
him? Won't he! Dat gam, as soon as he
puts his peppers on dat humpy, will slide
up to him an when de Teller amt lOokin'
he'll tech de hump sure and den go OFF an
plunge wild his las nick. Win? Mos
invaryably. Oats wy lisa superstishuu.
Deys tried de racket so often, and ev'ry
time mo- it works." Perceiving that his
remarks (which were made in rather loud
tones were exciting considerable interest
in those around him, the young sport con-
tinued his discourse.
an WIN gam gets in game if youse
put yer kidneys shoes on chair he JUS
goes wild. Wy? Dead strait bad luck!
Sure, u,,ver knowed it ter fail"
"Den dere's de dead mans hand super
stishun. Dyer never hear VIZ If q sewn
O. spades turns up first on deal OATS Fats
called q dead mans han and it means dat
one of de crowd will die soOh. Dey mus
have lots Of the hans ont Wes'. But the
supestishun wat cost tin is dis: If a beg
gar sees gam or some fel wat looks like
on of der perfesh, he's sure 70 brace him
fer de price of a growler, an he gets, it too.
A real gam never refuses begg, no mat
ter il he knows dat he's bein' worked fer
sucker"
1t is astonishing what hold supersti-
ton has upon the average American, and
it may be safely said that there is not one
in hundred who has the force of charac'
ter and strength Of mind to unburden HIM
self of all such foolish notions. Among
gamblers superstition forms as much part
offs professionals education as learning to
deal cards, and until he has all the innum-
cradle superstitions which prey upon the
minds of his class at his fingers tips he
cannot expect to rank as n real gam"
Actors, too, are the most superstitious
people on the face Of the globe. In no
company will the manager permit the
tag or end of the play be spoken during
the preliminary rehearsals, and If, on the
night of the first performance, an actor of
the company or an attache of the theatre
happens to look out front TO ''size up the
house before the curtain is rung up, be or